Relay



June 10, 1941. K. M. LORD ET AL RELAY Filed April 15, 1940 w w r; 9 -L L. M W" a .6 5 7 K W 1 a i o w v a W M1 I \H i a M m 5 d 1 M D a 7. j

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 10, 1941 ATE EFF EC RELAY Application April 15, 1940, Serial'No. 329,654

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a relay, and has for its purpose to afford a practical construction, of simple design that can be economically manufactured, and in which the controlled circuit is affected only when a current of predetermined frequency is imposed on the controlling circuit.

In a more particular aspect, the invention has for its object to afford a construction utilizing an armature that is normally in a position where it is unaffected by the electromagnetic coil and is adapted to be moved sufficiently close to the pole face to be attracted thereby, through the instrumentality of a vibratory member that is tuned so as to be affected only when a current of a particular frequency passes through the controlling circuit and coil.

Another purpose of the invention is to afford an arrangement in which the operation of the switch operating armature is governed by a reed of such construction that it can readily be tuned to lower frequencies, lending itself to a compact and practical design, and will quickly develop sufficient energy and movement, when actuated by the current of predetermined frequency, to move the armature into the predetermined position sufficiently close to its pole face to be attracted and. held thereby as long as the current, is passing to the coil.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the constructionand arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of a relay constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, and showing the parts in normal position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the position of the vibrating reed in operation as it initially engages the yoke, just before moving the latter upwardly;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the position of the parts after the armature has moved upwardly and is engaged with its pole face;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view;

5 is a bottom plan view, and

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation.

The invention is useful in any relation where it is desirable to open or close a circuit or control a switch or other electrical unit only when a current of one predetermined frequency is imposed on the line, as for instance in multi-party telephone lines, when one party is signalled from the central office by the operator imposing a current of particular frequency on the line.

Referring more particularly to the drawing in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views, I designates the coil of an electro-magnet to which lead the conductors 2 of the controlling circuit. 3 is a pole face at the lower end of the coil l, and t is a pole face at the upper end of the coil l and preferably located somewhat above the sarne as shown.

5 designates an armature carried by a lever 6, formed of lightweight non-magnetic material, aluminum for example, and pivotally supported at l and having its free end resting upon a suitable stop 8 which may have a rubber covering. The lever t is integrally connected to a sleeve that carries an arm provided with a switch or contact 9 arranged to engage a stationary contact Hi in the controlled circuit including the conductors H. Normally the armature 5 is in its lowermost position with lever 6 resting against stop 8', as shown in Fig. 1, and when so located, is too far from the pole face 3 to be affected thereby when the coil is energized. When current of predetermined frequency passes to the coil i, means is provided for moving the armature 5 upwardly to a predetermined point where it is sufiiciently close to pole face 3 to be attracted and held thereagainst as long as the particular current is passing through the coil.

To accomplish this, the lever 6 is provided with an upwardly extending portion at its free end terminating in a yoke or slotted portion E2, the purpose of which will appear presently. Located in proximity to the upper pole face i is a vibratory member, preferably in the form of a reed it of steel, or any magnetic material, that has one end adjustably fixed on a supporting post i i while its free end extends through the yoke or slotted portion l2, which latter may be provided at its upper end with a covering it of soft rubber or other suitable material to eliminate noise when contacting with the free end of reed l3.

In order to enable tuning the reed readily to lower frequencies and not to require a reed of excessive length, the latter is provided with a weight It fixedly secured to its free end on its under face, the weight it being accommodated in the yoke or slotted portion i2. By thus increasing the mass or weight at the free end of the reed, a larger arc of movement for a given period of vibration is possible, causing the vibratory member quickly to develop sufficient energy to move the armature the necessary distance to bring it within the zone of influence of the pole face 3. It will be understood that the vibratory member can be tuned, as by adjusting it endwise of its support, and in this manner made to vibrate in harmony with current of only one predetermined frequency so that the opening or closing of the controlled circuit through movement of the controlling armature is brought about only when the current of given frequency is imposed on the controlling circuit and coil.

When this happens, the reed is vibrated suf ficiently to cause its free end to engage the portion l5 of the yoke l2 and to move the latter upwardly, imparting a corresponding quick movement to the lever 5 and armature 5, which is thus moved) to the predetermined position where it is attracted by the pole face 3 and held thereagainst as long as the current of particular frequency is passing to the coil I.

At this time, contacts 9 and Ill are engaged'to close the controlled circuit, and when the current stops and coil I is deenergized, lever 6 and.

armature 5 fall by gravity to their lowermost position and remain there until the operation is repeated.

In order to prevent chatter due to contact between the pole face l and the vibratory reed l3, a stop ll may be provided of sponge rubber, felt, or other suitable soft yieldable material, secured to the upper end of the coil and located in the path of the vibrating reed so as to limit its downward movement.

While the invention has been described with reference to the detailed arrangement shown, it is susceptible of Various departures and modifications, and this application is intended to cover such changes as may come within the general purpose of the improvement or the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a relay, the combination with a coil, a pole face at one end of the coil, an armature that is normally in a position to be unaffected by said pole face and is attracted thereby when moved to a predetermined position, of vibratory actuating means located at the other end of the coil and dependent upon the frequency of the current passing through said soil, said vibratory actuating means being of magnetic material and operatively connected with said armature and operating to move the latter from its normal inoperative position to said predetermined position where it is attracted by said pole face;

2. In a relay, the combination with a coil, pole faces at opposite ends thereof, of an armature located in proximity to one of said pole faces, said armature being normally in a position Where it is unaffected by its pole face and movable to a predetermined position where it is attracted thereby, and a vibratory member of magnetic material located in proximity to the other of said pole faces and operatively connected to said armature, said vibratory member being tuned for operation only by a current of predetermined frequency and acting when operated thereby to move said armature into the predetermined position where it is attracted by its pole face.

3. In a relay, the combination with a coil, pole faces at opposite ends thereof, of an armature located in proximity to one of said pole faces, said armature being normally in a position where it is unaffected by said pole face and movable to a predetermined position where it is attracted by said pole face, a vibratory magnetic reed located in proximity to the other of said pole faces and operable only by a current of predetermined frequency, and means connecting said reed with said armature whereby the latter is moved to said predetermined position when the reed is vibrated by the current of predetermined frequency.

4. In a relay, the combination with a coil, pole faces at opposite ends thereof, of a pivoted armature in proximity to the lower pole face, a stop against which the free end of said armature normally rests, the armature when against said stop being unaffected by its pole face and movable upwardly to a predetermined position where it is attracted by said pole face, a vibratory magnetic member located in proximity to the other of said pole faces, said vibratory member being fixedly supported at one end and carrying a weight at its opposite free end, the vibratory member being tuned for operation only by a current of predetermined frequency, and a yoke carried by the free end of said armature and engaging the free end of said vibratory member, the latter acting to elevate the yoke and thereby move the armature into the predetermined position where it is attracted by its pole face.

5. In a relay, the combination with a coil, pole faces at opposite ends of the coil, of a pivoted armature located in proximity to the lower pole face, a stop against which the free end of said armature normally rests, the armature when against said stop being unaffected by its pole face and movable upwardly to a predetermined position where it is attracted by said pole face, a vibratory reed of magnetic material located in position to be affected by the upper of said pole faces, said reed being fixedly supported at one end and having its opposite end free to vibrate vertically, a weight attached to the free end of said reed on its underside, a stop of resilient material mounted on the upper end of the coil and acting to prevent contact between said reed and its pole face, the reed being tuned to be vibrated only by a current of predetermined frequency, and a yoke carried by said armature and extending upwardly and over the free end of said reed to be engaged and moved vertically by the latter.

6. In a relay, the combination with a coil having a pole face and an armature that is normally'in a position to be unaffected by said pole face and is attracted thereby when moved to a predetermined position, said coil having a second pole face, of vibratory actuating means of magnetic material controlled by said second pole face and movable independently of said armature, the armature being provided with operating means located in the path of said vibratory actuating means, said vibratory actuating means being vibrated by a current of predetermined frequency passing through said coil and operating when vibrated to move said armature from its normal inoperative position to said predetermined position where it is attracted by said first mentioned pole face.

'7. In a relay, the combination with a coil having a pole faceand an armature that is normally in a position to be unaffected by said pole face and is attracted thereby when moved to a predetermined position, said coil having a second pole face, of vibratory actuating means of magnetic material that is controlled by said second pole face and is vibrated by said coil when a current of predetermined frequency is imposed thereon, said vibratory actuating means being movable independently of said armature and operatively connected therewith whereby it acts when vibrated to move said armature from its normal inoperative position to said predetermined position Where it is attracted by the first mentioned pole face.

8. In a relay, the combination with a coil having a pole face and an armature that is normally in a position to be unafiected by said pole face and is attracted thereby when moved to a predetermined position, said coil having a second pole face, of vibratory actuating means of magnetic material controlled by said second pole face and movable independently of said armature, the

armature being provided with operating means located in the path of said vibratory means (whereby the said armature is moved toward its pole face when the vibratory actuating means moves away from its pole face), the said vibratory actuating means being operated when a current of predetermined frequency passes through said coil and acting to move said armature from its normal inoperative position to said predetermined position where it is attracted by the first mentioned pole face.

KENNETH M. LORD,

GLENN E. WARREN. 

